Universal bumperette assembly



Feb. 18, 1964 D. L. GASS 3,121,582

UNIVERSAL BUMPERETTE ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 30, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. DAV/0 Z..GA55.

Feb. 18, 1964 D. L. GA SS UNIVERSAL BUMPERETTE ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Nov. 30, 1962 INVENTOR. .DA Wu Z. 65455 United States Patent3,121,582 UNIVERSAL BUMPERETTE ASSEMBLY David L. Gass, 2535 S. State St,Chicago, 111. Filed Nov. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 241,353 7 Claims. (Cl.29367) My invention relates to an additional bumper guard as sembly orbumperette assembly, adapted to be fitted and attached to the variouscontoured bumpers of automobiles.

in the current market and for some time, bumpers are so placed onautomobiles that they do not provide suflicient protection particularlyagainst over ride or under ride.

Such bumpers should be supplemented by the attachment of one or morebumperettes. However, the bumpers on cars are not uniform or standardand difier in various rounded contours. Each contour has a differentradius.

It is among the objects of my invention to solve these problems and toprovide a universal bumperette assembly that may be fitted and attachedto varying contoured bumpers of cars having different radii, so as toprotect the cars against blows that would over ride or under ride theconventional bumpers.

Another object is to provide a universal bumperette assembly that willsupply increased protection to the conventional bumper to which it isattached, and to the car for maximum prevention against damage andgreater safety for the occupants of the car.

My invention also comprises such other objects, advantages andcapabilities as will later more fully appear, and which are inherentlypossessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments ofmy invention, yet it is to be understood that the same are susceptibleof modification and change without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a top plan view, FIG. 2 a bottomplan view, and FIG. 3 a side elevational view of my adaptor; FIG. 4 is adetailed sectional view on line 44 of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is an inner planview of my bumperette or metal member; FIG. 6 is a side elevational viewof my bumperette assembly; FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of amodified form of my bumperette assembly in position on a bumper; FIG. 8is a detailed sectional view on line 3-8 of FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is an insideplan view of a modified form of my bumperette; FIG. 10 is a longitudinalsectional view on line 1010 of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a side elevationalview; FIG. 12 is a top plan view; and FlG. 13 an end view of thismodified bumperette or metal member.

The preferred embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprisesan adaptor 10 having a rounded front portion 11 converging to a smallflat central portion 12 having an opening 13 extending rearwardlythrough the adaptor. The back portion 14 has a curved cut out portion15. Said cut out portion 15 is irregular in that the top curve issharper than the bottom curve which is more gradual as shown in FIG. 3.My adaptor 10 is formed of hard material such as rubber with sufiicientresiliency to function as hereinafter set forth.

A bumperette or metal member 16 has a body portion 17 with integraldepending spaced side walls 18, spaced end walls 19, and front portionZil forming upper and lower extensions 21 and 2.2, and an open rear. Ascrew threaded bolt, stud or rod 23 has one end attached to the centerof front portion 2! and extends rearwardly therefrom. Each of side walls18 has a forwardly curved cut out portion 24 adjacent an outwardlyflared or shaped portion 25. My metal member 16 is preferably made ofsteel or aluminum and is of sufiicient thickness and strength towithstand substantial blows and when tight- 3,121,582 Patented Feb. 18,15364 ened by the bolt and nut to compress the rubber adaptor to fitagainst the rounded contour of the bumper.

My bumperette assembly is assembled for use with metal member 16positioned against adaptor 10 with curved cut out portions 24 and flaredor bevelled portions 25 hearing against rounded front portion 11..

A hole 26 has been formed through bumper 27, so that when adaptor It)has been placed against bumper 27 with curved cut out portion '15bearing against the curved contour of the bumper, rod 23 extends throughopening 13 of adaptor 1t} and hole 26 of bumper 27. A washer 28 and ascrew threaded nut 29 are then tightened on rod 23 so that adaptor It)is shifted to fit the contour of the bumper and metal member 16 contactstightly against adaptor 10, so that metal member 16 is in fixed positionand can Withstand substantial blows.

In some cars, the radius of the bumper is irregular with asharper-incline on the top portion of the bumper. My adaptor isirregular shaped to aid in the fitting of the adaptor to the bumper whenthe adaptor is pressed by the bolt and nut into position against thebumper.

Bumpers differ in contour on the various automobiles. For instance, thebumper on the recent model Chevrolet differs in radius from that on theFord or Plymouthv Other cars have still different radii. It would beexpensive and require voluminous stock to have each bumperette assemblyspecifically designed to fit only one radius. My bumperette is universalin that may adaptor may be shifted to fit any of the differing radii inthe bumpers of the existing cars. Such adaptability is new and ofoutstanding value in the accessory industry.

in use my bumperette assembly not only protects the bumper from damageby the supplement of the attached bumperette assembly, but protects thecar from damage by a blow due to over ride or under ride. Without thebumperette assembly, a blow against the bumper may be diverted above orbelow the bumper, so the force of the blow causes damage to the car.This is serious where the blow causes damage to such parts as a rearmotor, a gas tank, or rear fenders or lights. With my bumperetteassembly in position, the added height, and depth of the bumperettecatches the high or low blows and prevents over riding and under riding.

Additionally, I provide raised side and end walls 39 around frontportion 2!) to provide a recess 31 within which is seated a rubbercovering member 32. attached to metal member 16 by screw threaded bolts33 extending through spaced openings 34 in front portion 20, held byscrew threaded nuts 35.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the adaptor id is the same asshown in my preferred embodiment, but I provide a metal member 36 orbumperette having a body portion 37 rounded and shaped to fit over therounded front portion 11 of adaptor 10;. My rounded body portion 37 hasinwardly bevelled edge portions 33 to aid in contacting adaptor 1G, anda central inner flat portion 39.

Extending outwardly from body portion 37 is extension ltihaving frontportion 41 and integral depending spaced side walls 42, end wall 41-3and an open rear.

A screw threaded bolt, stud or rod 44 is attached at one end to metalmember 36 within central flat portion 39 and extends rearwardlytherefrom. In use rod 44 extends through opening 13 in adaptor it? andhole 26 of bumper 27 and this embodiment is attached to bumper 27 of thecar, the same as heretofore set forth for my preferred embodiment.

When it is desired to protect the bumper to which it is attached forover ride, I attach this embodiment of my bumperette assembly to thebumper so that extension 40 extends upwardly. In the event it is desiredto protect :3 against under ride, I attach the bumperette assembly tothe bumper so that extension 4% extends downwardly.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim: 1. A universal bumperetteassembly for attachment to the bumpers of automobiles and for adjustablyfitting said bumperette assembly to varying curved bumpers comprising anadaptor formed of hard resilient material having a rounded front portionwith an opening extending through the adaptor, and a back portion havinga single curved part conforming to the general shape of a bumper to seatand engage the bumper throughout the single curved part of the adaptor,a bumperette having a flared body portion, the surface of which iscontiguous with and engages the rounded front portion of said adaptor,securing means attached at one end to said bumperette and extendingthrough the opening in said adaptor whereby said bumperette assembly isadapted to be attached to the bumper of an automobile having a holetherethrough with the curved back part of said adaptor positionablecontiguous with the bumper and said securing means extendable throughthe hole in the bumper, and adapted to be tightened so that said adaptoris shifted to engage the bumper so as to prevent movement of the adaptorand so that said bumperette is held tightly in fixed relationshipagainst said adaptor.

2. A universal bumperette assembly for attachment to the bumpers ofautomobiles and for adjustably fitting said bumperette assembly tovarying curved bumpers comprising an adaptor formed of hard resilientmaterial having a rounded front portion with an opening extendingthrough the adaptor, and a back portion having a single recessed partconforming to the general shape of a bumper to seat and engagethe-bumper throughout the single recessed part of the adaptor, abumperette having a flared body portion, the surface of which iscontiguous with and engages the rounded front portion of said adaptor,securing means attached at one end to said bumperette and extendingthrough the opening in said adaptor whereby said bumperette assembly isadapted to be attached to the bumper of an automobile having a holetherethrough with the back recessed part of said adaptor positionablecontiguous with the bumper and said securing means extendable throughthe hole in the bumper, and adapted to be tightened so that said adaptoris shifted to engage the bumper so as to prevent movement of the adaptorand so that said bumperette is held tightly in fixed relationshipagainst said adaptor.

3. A universal bumperette assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which thesingle curved back part of the adaptor is irregular, with a gradualcurve in one section and a sharper curve in another section of thesingle curved back part.

4. A universal bumperette assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which thebumperette has an inner front portion which the adapter abuts when thebumperette assembly is in position on the bumper of an automobile andthe tightening means has been tightened.

5. A universal bumperette assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which thebumperette has a recessed top portion and a hard rubber member ispositioned within and attached to said recessed top portion.

6. A universal bumperette assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which thebumperette has extensions which when the bumperette assembly is attachedto the bumper of an automobile extend above and below the bumper toprotect against blows over riding and under riding the bumper.

7. A universal bumperette assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which thebumperette has an extension which when the bumperette assembly isattached to the bumper of an automobile extends either above or belowthe bumper to protect against blows in that direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,930,189 Barbara Oct. 1 0, 1933 2,039,004- Iandus et al Apr. 28, 19362,214,514 Walklet Sept. 10, 1940 2,230,333 Painter Feb. 4, 19412,614,877 Banian Oct. 21, 1952 2,646,308 Ferrell July 21, 1953 2,858,159 Borah Oct. 28, 1958

1. A UNIVERSAL BUMPERETTE ASSEMBLY FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE BUMPERS OFAUTOMOBILES AND FOR ADJUSTABLY FITTING SAID BUMPERETTE ASSEMBLY TOVARYING CURVED BUMPERS COMPRISING AN ADAPTOR FORMED OF HARD RESILIENTMATERIAL HAVING A ROUNDED FRONT PORTION WITH AN OPENING EXTENDINGTHROUGH THE ADAPTOR, AND A BACK PORTION HAVING A SINGLE CURVED PARTCONFORMING TO THE GENERAL SHAPE OF A BUMPER TO SEAT AND ENGAGE THEBUMPER THROUGHOUT THE SINGLE CURVED PART OF THE ADAPTOR, A BUMPERETTEHAVING A FLARED BODY PORTION, THE SURFACE OF WHICH IS CONTIGUOUS WITHAND ENGAGES THE ROUNDED FRONT PORTION OF SAID ADAPTOR, SECURING MEANSATTACHED AT ONE END TO SAID